In Situ Growth of Iron-Based MOFs on Carboxylated Cotton Fabrics for Removal of Rhodamine B by Photocatalysis

Abstract

There are tremendous potential in utilizing metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) for enhancing the removal of organic dyes from wastewater. However, the recovery of powdered catalysts poses a significant challenge. In this study, four different iron-based metal–organic frameworks (Fe-MOFs) were synthesized by growing them in situ on carboxylated cotton fabrics. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were employed to conduct a comprehensive characterization of the Fe-MOFs. The dye removal rate of Fe-MOF@Cotton was meticulously determined by comprehensively investigating various factors including the concentration of the dye and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), the pH value of the solution, and the temperature. Extensive catalytic degradation experiments were conducted to assess the performance of Fe-MOF@Cotton. The results vividly demonstrated that Rhodamine B (RhB) was photocatalytically degraded by Fe-MOF@Cotton with remarkable efficiency in the presence of H₂O₂. Notably, the four MOF fabric composites were capable of degrading over 97% of RhB with a concentration of 20 mg/L. Moreover, these composites exhibited excellent reusability, strongly indicating their significant potential for application in the dye wastewater treatment industry. This not only highlights the effectiveness of Fe-MOF@Cotton in dye removal but also offers a promising avenue for addressing the challenges associated with dye-contaminated wastewater treatment.